Gamete intrafallopian transfer, also known by the acronym "GIFT," is a technique used to assist in reproductive capabilities. Unlike a standard invitro fertilization process, GIFT involves the removal of eggs from a woman's ovaries and the subsequent replacement of them into one of the fallopian tubes, along with sperm, in order to induce fertilization inside of the body.
The GIFT technique has developed within the last 20 years or so and has become quite a popular choice amongst couples looking to explore non traditional methods of fertilization. It does require a lengthy preparation period, however. Read on for a bit of information about how to prepare for your gamete intrafallopian transfer procedure.
Step 1: Stimulate Egg Production
The first part of the preparatory process to help you get ready for the GIFT procedure is to begin a hormone treatment program. This usually begins several weeks before the fertilization process is intended to take place. The purpose of this hormone treatment regimen is to stimulate production of eggs in the ovaries. This makes it easier for doctors to subsequently find and remove an egg so that it can be re-transferred to the fallopian tubes.
Step 2: Monitor Growth
The ovarian follicles will grow as a result of the hormone treatment. The doctors watching over your GIFT preparation will monitor the size and growth of those follicles closely in order to determine when it will be easiest to recover an egg from the ovaries.
Step 3: Recovery of Eggs
Once the ovarian follicles have reached a critical size, your doctor will inject you with a substance known as human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, which stimulates the release of eggs. Within the next 24 to 36 hours, the doctor will collect potential eggs from your ovaries for use in the fertilization process.
Step 4: Replace the Eggs
At this point in time, the eggs themselves will then be mixed with the man's sperm and placed back into the fallopian tubes. A laparoscope is used to do this, which makes the procedure of gamete intrafallopian transfer a bit more invasive than IVF (invitro fertilization). For this reason, some people have come to prefer IVF over GIFT.
Following the replacement of the eggs into the fallopian tubes, you and your doctor will have to wait and monitor your body closely for signs that the fertilization process has occurred and that the egg has successfully attached to the uterine wall, indicating pregnancy.
One other important bit of preparation that will typically need tooccur before the GIFT process can begin is that the doctor must ensure that you have at least one valid and fully functional Falloppian tube. This is crucial to the success of the procedure, and must be determined before any other preparations can begin.
If you have had difficulty with fertilization, consider speaking to a doctor about the GIFT process to see if it may increase your chances of having a child.
